Writing, Reading, Teaching, Life, Attempting to Balance it All

Star of the Week November 5, 2008

I know I have mentioned Beth Newingham’s fabulous website for her Michigan classroom, but if you haven’t had a chance to check it out, I am uploading a document I got from her. We have used it very successfully in our fourth grades this year and last. It’s a great motivator and also a nice way to involve parents.
My daughter is Star of the Week for her class this week (her teacher uses the same format as well) and Maggie has been so excited. In a nutshell, the format is this: Monday-share poster, photos, and special items; Tuesday-share favorite childhood book (A great chance to have older students practice a little fluency-even the most reluctant reader is almost always willing to read a picture book aloud); Wednesday-parent letter shared with classmates (see below); Thursday-Lunch Buddy-a parent comes and eats with their child; Friday-star friends-a small poster that has the child’s picture is surrounded by nice comments/compliments from all classmates.

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2 Responses to “Star of the Week”

Mrs. Gawell does something similar in 2nd grade — though as I recall, mostly the Monday portion (poster, interests, etc.). Of course, I love the bringing in the favorite book idea, and if it’s a longer book, they could read just a short passage, or tell why the liked it, etc. (a first “booktalk”!).

In D’s Swedish preschool, each child was a star on their birthday, and all the other children wrote something they liked about the person on their start — still a favorite memento from our time there, and the comments range from sweet (you have a nice smile!) to hilarious (you wear nice clothes!)

I grew up as a reluctant reader. Now I write action-adventures & mysteries, especially for tween boys, that girls and boys hate to put down. My web site is at http://www.maxbooks.9k.com and my Books for Boys blog is at http://booksandboys.blogspot.com I also have a short story in a new book called LAY UPS and LONG SHOTS, published by Darby Creek Publishing. I’m also featured in an article in the 2009 edition of Children’s Writer Guide.